Each year, Orange County and the nation observe Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was expanded in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan to the 30-day period from September 15 to October 15.

The date of September 15 was chosen because it’s the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. October 12, celebrated as Columbus Day or El Día de la Raza, also falls within Hispanic Heritage Month.

Pictured are Water Cover details from the three sculpture relief works.

Member Artists of ArtistsRegistry.com. celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5th with their own interpretations of Mexican life, through the mediums of paintings, drawings, photography or sculpture.

Da Gracias Por Agua (triptych 21″ x 48″)

Bobbi Mastrangelo is internationally known for her unique wall relief city-scape interpretations of water covers and manhole covers. Her Triptych created just for this Mexican Themed Event is collectively titled: “Da Gracias Por Agua.” (Give Thanks for Water)

The first sculpture relief, entitled “Agua Sagrada,” pays homage to Jorge Argueta’s Poems in “Hablando con Madre Tierra.” (“Talking with Mother Earth” illustrated by Lucia Angela Pérez) His powerful, inspirational bi-lingual poems explore a young native Salvadoran boy’s connection to Mother Earth. Tetl’s Grandmother taught him about the spirituality of his Nahuatl Ancestors viewing the Earth as being alive with sacred meaning.

Aqua Sagrada (Sacred Water)

The text inscribed around the simulated water fount is “El Agua Es Sagrada.” (Water is sacred) “Es La Sangre de La Madre Tierra. (It is the blood of Mother Earth.) Jorge Argueta graciously gave permission for me to use these words from his poem “El Agua.”

Bobbi enjoyed researching the ancient Aztec, Mayan and Nahuatl Cultures for the borders and designs of the two outside pieces. Atl, the Aztec symbol for water is located in the center of the starburst design.

But it was the contemporary Water Researcher, Masaru Emoto, author of The True Power of Water who influenced the text of the above piece. “Water is a Blessing, Give Thanks for Water,” Bobbi inscribed the Spanish Translation around the water fount: “El Agua Es Una Bendición. Da Gracias Por Agua.”

Emoto believes that: “It is our individual responsibility to learn all we can about water, the most precious resource on the planet and to help shift the consciousness through our thoughts, words and prayers. May our understanding of water help to bring peace to all mankind.”

Bobbi felt Spiritually Blessed as she created this triptych and hoped that Argueta’s philosophy about honoring Mother Earth and Emoto’s revelations about water would resonate to the viewers.